Grapplers Fall 19-16 in Regular Season Finale

Feb 15, 2008

KUTZTOWN, PA – The York College wrestling
squad took a tough defeat Friday evening, 19-16 as they visited
Kutztown University. The 25th-ranked Spartans now stand at 14-6 on
the season while the Golden Bears improve to 10-3-1.Kyle Flickinger (New Oxford,
Pa./Bermudian Springs) opened the match on a high-note as
he pinned Kutztown’s Eddie Harris merely 1:30 into their
125-pound bout. The junior is now 27-6 on the season and is ranked
tenth in his weight-class according to the latest National
Wrestling Coaches Association Brute-Adidas poll.Sean Hightman (Dover,
Pa./Northeastern) then dropped a tough 4-3 overtime
decision to Rob Vollrath. A tight match all the way through the
initial three periods and into the four overtime sessions, Vollrath
eventually earned the victory with points for an escape and riding
time.
The 141-pound Ryan Catton (Blairstown,
N.J./North Warren) counter-acted Vollrath’s win as
the Spartan sophomore grabbed a 2-1 decision over Jaime Soupik.
Kutztown would go on to take the next two
matches. Chris Chambers earned a 6-4 decision against the
Spartan’s Erik George (Wrightstown, N.J./Northern
Burlington County) in the 149-pound class and Dave Zeek
captured his win over Spartan standout John Niedrich
(Freehold, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) at 157-pounds
with a 4-2 decision.
With the score tied at 9-9, the green and white
jumped right back on top with a 13-4 major decision from
165-pounder Brian Alwine (Hanover,
Pa./Southwestern).
Unfortunately for the visitors, the Golden Bears
would grab wins in each of the next three matches. Curtis
Beardsell, Kyle Davis, and Scott Snyder each captured decisions
over their Spartan counterparts at the 174-, 184-, and 194-pound
classes, respectively. Hank Conklin (Milford, Pa./Delaware
Valley) and Snyder went into overtime during their
194-pound bout, but Snyder came out on top earning a two-point
takedown to win the match 3-1.
With the Spartans down 19-13 and going into the
heavyweight bout, Spartan senior Luke Panizzi (Eatontown,
N.J./Monmouth Regional) needed a pin to even the team
score. A fall would not be earned here on this night as the Golden
Bears’ Kevin Bolinsky avoided the pin. Panizzi would go on to
win the match 5-2, improving his senior mark to 28-5, but Kutztown
took the team victory 19-16.
With their regular-season now complete, the
Spartans are set to travel to Wilkes University on Sunday, February
24 for the Metro Conference championships. Flickinger will look to
defend his 2007 title, as he, Niedrich, Panizzi, and the entire
Spartan squad will each seek strong performances to capture the
league championship and gain berths into the NCAA National
Tournament. The grappling action begins from Wilkes-Barre,
Pa. at 10:30 am.